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Important Changes Regarding Appointments in Florida Beginning on January 18, 2012

Appointment Renewals When a Licensee Has an Invalid Address

Starting after 5 p.m. EST on January 18, 2012, if a licensee/appointee has an
invalid address on file with the Department, then no appointing entity will be
able to renew the licensee's appointment. This process is already in place for
initiating original appointments and will now be incorporated into the
appointment renewal process. When the licensee updates their address(es) in their
MyProfile account,
then the licensee will be able to have their appointment(s) renewed. The
addresses included in this process are email, home, business and mailing.

Late Fees for Late Original and Late Renewal Appointments

Starting after 5 p.m. EST on January 18, 2012, we will begin assessing
appointing entities the statutory $250 late fee in addition to the statutory $60
appointment fee for each initial/original appointment submitted late. A late
original appointment is any initial/original appointment that has a requested effective date
more than 45 days before the submittal date.

For example, if on March 1, 2012, an appointing
entity submits a initial/original appointment with an effective date
of January 2, 2012 (more than 45 days from the submittal
date) for a licensee, the appointing entity will be
required to pay the $60 original appointment fee and the
statutory $250 late fee. On the other hand, if on March
1, 2012, an appointing entity submits a initial/original appointment
with an effective date of February 1, 2012 (less than 45
days from the submittal date), the appointing entity
will pay only the $60 original appointment fee.

Additionally, we will begin assessing appointing
entities the statutory $25 late fee in addition to the
statutory $60 appointment fee for each appointment
renewed late. A late renewal appointment is one that is
paid after the renewal month.

The late fees must be paid by the appointing entity
and cannot be charged back to the appointee.

Appointment Renewal Timeline and Notification Changes

Starting after 5 p.m. EST on January 18, 2012, we
will begin sending an email notification to an
appointing entity 90 days before an appointment is up
for renewal, in addition to posting the renewal invoice
in their eAppoint account, which will indicate any
appointee with an invalid address. An insurance agency
that has appointed a customer representative will
receive a similar email notification at the same time.
This serves as a reminder and provides the appointing
entity time to make modifications to the list of
appointments they will be renewing such as reminding any appointee with an invalid address to update it with the Department.

Another email notification will be sent to the
appointing entity on the first day of the renewal month
informing them that they can now access the
appointment(s) that need to be renewed and make payment
via eAppoint. Licensees that self-appoint will be sent a
similar email notification at the same time. The renewal
invoice will become available for payment on the first
day of the renewal month and can be paid through the
last day of the renewal month without late fees being
assessed.

On the first day of the month following the
expiration date of an appointment, an email notification
will be sent to the appointing entity advising payment
was not received, late fees have been assessed, and the
invoice will continue to be available for 45 more days
for payment, including late fees, otherwise the
appointment will be cancelled. If the appointment is not
renewed after this 45-day period, the appointment will
be cancelled for non-renewal and an email notification
will be sent to the appointing entity and the licensee
notifying them of the appointment cancellation along
with information on the process for reappointment and
the late fee.

For example, if an appointment expiration date were
March 31, 2012, the invoice would become available for
payment on March 1, 2012, without late fees being
assessed. On April 1, 2012, late fees are assessed at
$25 per appointment and the invoice remains available
for payment until May 15, 2012. On May 16, 2012, if
payment has not been received, the appointment is
cancelled.

If the appointing entity wishes to reinstate an
appointment after it has been cancelled for non-renewal,
and no lapse in appointment coverage is desired, the
appointing entity will be required to process a initial/original
appointment submission and enter the requested effective
date. If the initial/original appointment's requested effective date
is more than 45 days from the submittal date, then the
statutory $250 late fee described above will be
assessed.

Rule Regarding Effect of Law Enforcement Records on License Applications
Being Amended

In the 2011 legislative session, Section 626.207, F.S., was amended to change
the way that criminal history of an applicant for licensure as an insurance
representative affects their application. A notice of rule development has been
filed with the Florida Department of State with proposed rule amendments to conform
the Department's existing rule to the revised statute.Click here to read the rule notice >>

Southern Eagle Insurance Company Ordered into Liquidation

On December 16, 2011, Southern Eagle Insurance Company ("SEIC"), already in
receivership, was ordered liquidated by the Second Judicial Circuit Court in
Leon County, Florida. The Florida Department of Financial Services is the court
appointed Receiver of SEIC. The company was previously ordered into receivership
for purposes of rehabilitation on December 6, 2011. Click here to read more details >>

Make Sure You Don't Miss Important Information From Us

Add our domain MyFloridaCFO.com to your email software's Trusted or Safe Senders List to ensure you are able to receive
all notifications from us. Licensees who have a valid email address on file with
the Department, as required by law, receive important email notifications when something
that affects your application, license, continuing education, or appointment(s) occurs. Additionally, we can keep you informed with warnings regarding
new schemes and scams being marketed to licensees. You can update your contact information through your
MyProfile account. We want to keep you informed in a timely manner of pertinent
information important to you. You are still required to abide by the Florida Insurance Code regardless of whether you read the information we provide
or attempt to provide.